Vending apparatus



April 20, 1965 R. c. HAUPT, sli.` ETAL 3,179,224

Filed sept. 11. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT ORS 1f. mz Jze fs' aefi.lea/a ATTORNEYS April 20, 196s R. c. HAUPT, SR., ETA.. 3,179,224

VENDING APPARATUS ma? i Filed Sept. 11. 1961 April 20, 1965 R. c. HAUPT,SR.. ETAL 3,179,224

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1961 4 SheetS-She'et 3' ATTORNEYSApril 20, 1965 Filed Sept. 1l, 1961 R. c. HAUPT, sR., ETAL VENDINGAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 /L I 32 j@ 93 94] INVENTORS BY www ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,179,224- VENDEG APPARATUS Reginald C. Haupt, Sr.,and Robert A. Jewell, Savannah, Ga., assignors, by mesne assignments, oftitty percent to Reginald C. Haupt, sixteen percent to Robert A...iev/ell, twelve percent to Marjorie R. Lamar, and eight percent toRichard F. Thigpen, all of Savannah, Ga.

Filed Sept. 11, 196i, Ser. No. 136,424 Claims. (Cl. 19d-2) Thisinvention relates to automatic vending devices broadly, and particularlyto devices for dispensing gaslled cylinders, especially those filledwith an inflammable gas for cooking and similar uses, such as liquidpetroleum, and commonly known as LP. gas cylinders.

It hasbeen customary to handle the distribution of LP. gas from acentral plant where volume storage of the gas is possible. Although insome places permanent tanks are installed for customers and the tanksiilled periodically from tank trucks, smaller quantities are handled byloading cylinders of various sizes and capacities for sale to customers.The larger cylinders are delivered by truck, but the smaller sizes canbe picked up by the customer at the central plant in desired quantity.The use of the smaller cylinders on boats, for camping cookstoves, andother outdoor uses has created a quantity demand for the smaller sizecylinder, especially for holiday and week-end use. This makes itnecessary for the purchaser to obtain a required supply while thecentral plant, or other outlet, is open, and the distributor to employpersons for this type of sale.

"The general object of the present invention is to provide avendingmachine particularly adapted to the automatic sale of gas cylinders,especially the smaller sizes, but suitable for the larger sizes as well.

A more speciiic object of the invention is to provide a dispensingdevice which will deliver a filled gas cylinder only upon the insertionof coins totalling a predetermined price and the deposit of an emptycylinder, and which will be inoperative to deliver a filled cylinderupon the deposit of the coin orthe empty cylinder alone.

Another object is the provision of a vending device of this generalcharacter wherein the control apparatus includes means for recognitionof an empty cylinder,

with therecognition means being incorporated serially in the vendingchain of mechanism.

A further object is to provide such a vending device having a pluralityof cylinder positions with the positions arranged to release filledcylinders in sequence.

Yetanother object of the invention is to provide a vending device havinga plurality of cylinder positions arranged for sequential delivery, withthe placement and locking of an empty cylinder in an empty positionserving to set up conditions to release a cylinder from the nextsucceeding position upon insertion of the proper coins.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of practical embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunctionwith the drawings which accompany, and `form part of, thisspecification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a vending appalratus embodying theprinciples of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectiomon an enlarged scale, through one of thecylinder-holding compartments of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, and istaken on the line 2-Z of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial horizontal section, on a still larger scale, takenthrough the `compartment shown in FIGURE 2, taken on the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG- igd Patented Apr.20, lg

URE 3, illustrating the connection between an empty gas cylinder and atypical P.O.L. fitting which forms the gas cylinder recognition means;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on the line 5--5 of FIG- URE 4; 3

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic layout of a typical electrical circuit for athree-compartment apparatus such as shown in FIGURE 1, with theactuating elements of the circuit in the position they will assume whenthe apparatus is filled and ready for use;

FIGURE 7 shows the same circuit after an empty cylinder has been placedin the first compartment, coins have been inserted in the coin control,and thesecond compartment door hasopened;

FIGURE 8 is a similar View with the parts in the positions assumed afteran empty cylinder has been placed in the second compartment and theapparatus is empty;

FIGURE 9 is a schematic view of the operating mechanism of thecircuitselector controlled by the coin box;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective Viewl of a modified arrangement of vendingapparatus; and

FIGURE 11 is a vertical `section on an enlarged scale through one of thestations of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 10.

In general, the vending apparatus of the present invention comprises aplurality of gas cylinder compartments, or gas cylinder stations, withmeans for locking the `compartment or station to prevent removal of acylinder placed therein. The unlocking of a compartment, or station, topermit removal of a filled gas cylinder is contingent upon depositingthe proper coins, placing an empty cylinder in an open precedingcompartment and connecting it to a recognition device, and locking theempty cylinder in the compartment, or station, in which it was placed.The compartments, or stations, are arranged for sequential operation, sothat when all the above-mentioned conditions have been fulfilled at onestation, the next succeeding station will be unlocked.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first adverting to FIGURES 1 to8, inclusive, there is shown a vending machine l which is formed as acabinet having a plurality of compartments 2, close-d lby hinged doors3. The compartments are shown arranged in two superposed rows of sixcompartments each. It will be obvious that any number of compartmentsmay be used, and that the arrangement may be changed as desired. Af coinslot 4 may be provided in the face of the cabinet, and indicator lights5 can be located over each compartment door except the last. An emptylight 6 can be located at any convenient place, such as adiacent thecoin slot, to indicate when the supply of full gas cylinders isexhausted. A control box 7, containing a coin box S, a transformer 9, acoin operated circuit selector I0, a reload and reset relay Il andreload and reset switches 12 and 13, respectively, is located at theside, or back, of the cabinet in a location convenient for access by aservice man. The control box will have a key-actuated lock i4, so thatunauthorized persons` may not have access to it. t

`In view of the fact that all of the compartments are identical, exceptthat the last compartment of the sequence has no recognition unit (to bedescribed) and a the open front, and some means, such as springs 2i, areA employed to automatically` move the door to open position whenunlocked. The door is provided with a spring box 32 attached to the backof the compartment.

3 lock 22., which has a solenoid 23 connected to its bolt 24 to withdrawthe bolt when energized. The lock bolt cooperates with a keeper 25mounted inside the compartment to hold the door in closed position.

The door 3 is pivotally connected, as at 26, to one end of a link 27,which has its other end pivotally connected to a switch actuating slide28, mounted in bearings 29 Hand having a shaft 30 slidable through anopening 31 in the back wall of the compartment, to project into a switchIn the switch box there will be a number of micro-switches, two in eachcompartment except the last, and four in the last,

, as will be described, mounted upon a bracket 33 fixed to the switchbox. The switches will be arranged in a row with their actuating buttonsin a line for Contact and actuation by the actuator bar 34 of the slide28. When the door 3 is closed, link 27 will be shifted to move slide 23to bring the actuator bar into contact with, and depress, all of theactuating buttons of the switches. When the door 3 opens, the switchesare released to assume their normal positions. Due to the fact that itis essential that the micro-switches be operated to close only at theinstant the cabinet door reaches closed position, a fZ-shaped spring 34has one leg iixed to the actuator bar 34 while the other leg is free forresilient movement. v fixed to the switch box to engage and hold backthe free An abutment 34 is end of they Z spring as the actuator barmoves forward.

. The spring and abutment are designed so that the free end of thespring Will snap past the abutment and into operative engagement withthe switches just as the door reaches closed position. The resiliency ofthe spring will A hold the switches closed even though there is somefree movement of the door due to play of the lock tongue 1n the keeperVZ5. When the door is opened, the spring end will snap past theVabutment and release the switches. This arrangement makes it necessaryto completely close a door upon an empty cylinder before the door of thenext compartment will open, thereby eliminating the possibility of acustomer almost closing a door upon an empty cylinder compartment torelease the next cornpartment door then re-opening the door to the emptycylinder compartment and removing both a full cylinder and the emptyone.

. Each'compartment, except the last, also contains an empty gas cylinderrecognition unit 35. This consists of a tting 36 known in the trade as aP.O.L. iitting, carried at the end of a length of rubber hose 37 whichhouses a Y micro-switch and the necessary wiring for the switch. TheVfitting is modified to incorporate an electric switch to close acircuit whenever the tting is attached to the connection nipple 38 onthe valve 39 of a conventional gas cylinder 46.

The fitting shown comprises an elongated connector 41 having afrusto-conical head 42, and being bored axially,

, as at 43. The hose 37 is iitted over the shank 44 of the of theconnector and has a head 51 at its outer end. A resilient washer 52 ismounted on the rod Sti between the head of the actuator and the head ofthe connector, serving as a spring to urge the switch operating rodoutwardly to inoperative position, arid as a plug to seal the cylinderoutlet if the valve 39 is not tightly closed. The actuator rod hasanYelongated cut-out 53l on one side, and a set screw 54 is threadedthrough the connector shank and seated in the cut-out 53 to lock theactuator to the con- Y nector, yyet allow the actuator limited Vslidingmovement Y' relative to theconiiector. j 55 serves to connect thefitting to the cylinder outlet.

A threaded coupling sleeve .be present.

In attaching the fitting to a cylinder, the head 42 of the connector,with the projecting actuator, is inserted into the tapered opening 56 inthe mouth ofthe nipple 3S, and the coupling sleeve 55 is threaded ontothe nipple. The threads of the nipple and coupling sleeve in allinstances will be the special sizeleft hand thread which is standard forthis type of cylinder in the trade. As the sleeve is tightened, the headof the actuator will seat itself in the nipple and the connector will hedrawn up causing the connector to slide on the actuator rod, compressthe washer 52, and bring the end of the rod into contact with, andultimately depress, the control button` of the micro-switch. Thus,attaching the fitting to the cylinder serves as a recognition device asthe mating left hand threads must At the same time, the micro-switch isactuated to prepare a circuit for delivery of a full cylinder, and, ifthe cylinder valve 39 is not closed tightly, the iitting serves to sealthe outlet. When the fitting is removed from the cylinder nipple, theresiliency of the washer 52 will force the rod outwardly andallow theswitch to return to its normal condition, in this case to open position.An adjusting nut 48 on the micro-switch permits adjustment to determinethe pressure which will be required to actuate the switch.

The above described construction comprises all of the mechanicalstructure of the vending machine. The various switches and relays,brieiiy referred to, are connected in circuits -to make the vendingoperation an automatic one when the proper coins have been inserted inthe coin slot, an empty gas cylinder has been placed in an emptycompartment and connected to the fitting in that compartment, and thecompartment door closed. FGURE 6 shows the electric circuitry for athree compartment rnachine. It will be understood that the iirst andlast cornpartnient controls will be the saine as Shown no matter howmany compartments intervene, and it more than three compartments areused, all between the first and last will be wired as the middlecompartment of the layout illustrated.

In FIGURE 6, the three compartments are indicated by the dotted linerectangles 56, 57 and 5S. Within the first compartment 56, there will bethe lock solenoid 59, Y

the door actuated micro-switches 60 and 61 and the P.O.L. fittingmicro-switch 62. The second compartment :'37 will have its solenoid 23,door actuated micro-switches 63 and 64 and fitting switch 47. The lastcompartment 53 will contain a solenoid 65, door actuated switches 66,67, 63 and 69. There is no fitting in the last compartment. Of the aboveswitches, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 47, 66 and 69 will be normally openswitches,l While 68 and 67 are normally closed switches. When the doorsof the respective compartments are closed, the normally open switches60, 61, 63, 64, 66 and 69 will be closed and the normally closedswitches 67 and 68 will be opened.V Switches 62 and 47 will be closedonly when the fittings which carry them are connected to empty gascylinders.

The door lock-controlling solenoid coils 59, 23 and 65 are connected tothe contacts 7 tl, 71 and 72, respectively, of the circuit selector It)through wires 73, 74 and 75. The contacts are selectively connected to apower source 76 by means or a movable contactor 77, connected throughwire 7S with the power source. The several coils are connected seriallywith the respective switches 6i), 63 and 66 and the return line 79 tothe power source by wires Si), El and 82. Thus, when the contactor 77connects one of the solenoid coils to the source of power and the switchin series with that coil is closed, the coil willbe energized towithdraw the bolt tounlock the compartment door with which the coil isassociated. Y l

The contactor '77 may be moved step-by-step by any appropriate means inresponse to insertion of proper coins into the coin mechanism 3. Forpurposes of illustration one means for operating the contactor has beenshown, which :includes a ratchet wheel 83, fixed upon a pivot 84 towhich the `contactor 77 is also xed so that` the ratchet and contactorwill move in unison. The ratchet may be rotatedthrough predeterminedarcs by means of a pawl 85 pivotally attached to a rod 36 and biasedtoward the ratchet by spring S7. Movement of the pawl toward the`ratchet is limited by a stop S8. Rod 86 is drawn upwardly by a solenoidS9 energizedin response to proper coins being inserted into the coinbox, and is returned to its lower inactive position by means of a spring90. The ratchet may be attached to one end of a clock-type spring 91which tightens with each progressive movement of the ratchet. A holdingdog 92 may be urged into holding relation with the ratchet by a spring93 to lock the ratchet against reverse rotation. A reload solenoid 04may be employed to withdraw dog 92 to allow the ratchet and contactor toreverse their movements to return to starting position. Any suitablestop arrangement 95 may be employed to properly position the ratchet forstarting.

The solenoid 89 may be connected to the secondary 96 of a transformerhaving its primary 97 bridging the coin box 8 and the return line 79 andactuated only when coins are put into the coin box. Solenoid 94 is incircuit with the secondary 98 of a transformer 98 connected directlyacross the input and return lines of the power source and iscontinuously activated. The solenoid 94 circuit includes the manualreload switch 12, and the solenoid is actuatedonly when switch 12 isclosed.

With this much of the circuit described, it is believed that theremainder of the circuit can be described to best advantage inconjunction with the operation of the device.

When the device is ready for operation, compartments 57 and 58 each willcontain a full gas cylinder and their doors will be closed and locked.Compartment 56 will be empty, and its door open. At this time, contactor77 will be at the contact 70, which is the starting position.Door-controlled micro-switches 60 `and 61 will be open, as will P.O.L.fitting switch 62 so that none of the operating circuits will be closed.A warning light 99 suitably positioned at an instruction chart 100, Willbe lit as it is in a circuit including wire 101 from the` power source,the bulb 99, wire 102, closed switch 69 and return line 79. This lightwill remain on unless the door of the last cabinet is open. It will benoted that with conditions as described, door latch coil 59 of thecompartment 56 is in circuit with the contactor 77, and, therefore, withthe source of power. If the door of compartment is inadvertently closed,switch 60 will be closed, the coil 59 activated, and the door willspring open.

When a customer desires to obtain a full cylinder of gas, he iirstplaces the proper coins in the coin box 8, which will cause the circuitselector mechanism to operate. advancing the contactor from contact 70to contact 71. This accomplishes three things: First, the circuitleading to door latch solenoid 59 is broken so that if the door` of thefirst compartment is closed it will not reopen; second, a circuit to thedoor release solenoid 23 of conipartment 57 is set up, and, third, aglow bulb indicator light 5 is lit. The glow bulb is lit through thecircuit which includes the solenoid 23, but through bridges 103 and 104across the switches 61 and 62., each of which includes a resistance.This will allow the indicator light to come on even though both-switches 61 and 62 are open, but only suliicient current will leakthrough to illuminate the bulb. The solenoid 23 will not be energizeduntil both switches 61 and 62 are closed. The

.purpose of the indicator light is to Warn the customer that thecompartment56 is now in condition for locking and the door must not beclosed unless, and until, an empty gas cylinder is coupled to thelitting in that compartment. Next, an empty cylinder is placed in thecompartmcnt 56 and the P.O.L. fitting in that compartment is connectedto the nipple of the cylinder. As the coupling is tightened, switch 62will be closed and the glow light will go out to indicate that thecoupling is tightened suliciently. The door of compartment 56 is thenclosed. The door will be locked, automatically, and switches 60 and 61will be closed. This completes the circuit through solenoid 2?,withdrawing the latch bolt of the door of compartment 57, allowing thatdoor to spring open, revealing the full gas cylinder in thatcompartment. When the door of compartment 57 opens, switches 63 and 64open.

With the apparatus in the condition just described, the circuits incompartment 57 will be as were those in cornpartment 56 at thecommencement of the operation. The door of compartment 57 will not latchif inadvertently i closed, as closing the door will close switch 63,re-establishing `the circuit through solenoid 23. When the proper coinsare inserted to cause the contactor to move to contact 72, an emptycylinder is properly connected to the tting in compartment 57, and thedoor of compartment 57 is closed, the door will remain closed andsolenoid 65 will be energized to unlock the door of compartment 58.

When the door of compartment SiS opens, switch 66 opens to disrupt thecircuit throughsolenoid 65. Switch 67 closes, completing a circuit fromthe secondary 98 of the transformer 98', through closed contacts 105 ofreload relay 11, to energize throwout coil 106 of relay 11 to shift therelay and, open contacts 106 and 107. This opens the circuit to the coincontrol box S and renders the machine inoperative until reloaded andreset. The opening of the door of compartment 58 also closes switch 63and opens switch 69. As switch 69 opens, the circuit through warninglight 99 is broken and that light goes out. Switch 68 in closingcompletes a circuit through line 101 from the power source, branch line108, empty light 6, switch 68 and return line 79 to illuminate the emptylight.

in order to reload the machine for further use it is necessary to openthe doors of the compartments containing empty cylinders and removethese cylinders. Only compartment 58 is open at this time. Contactor 77of the circuit selector is engaging contact 72, thus being in circuitwith latch release coil 65 on the door of compartment 58. Under thesecircumstances it would be impossible to close and lock that door. Theoperator, or service man, will unlock the control box 7, and manuallyclose reload switch 12. This will energize coil 94, withdrawing dog 92from engagement with ratchet 83 and allow the ratchet to return to itsinitial position under the iniluence of spring 91. As the ratchetrotates it carries contactor 77 with it. As contactor 77 leaves contact72 the circuit through coil 65 is broken and the door of compartment 58will lock if closed. `As contactor 77 engaged contact 71 the circuitthrough coil 23 is completed and the door of compartment57 will swingopen. As contactor 77 leaves contact 71 the circuit through coil 23 isbroken and the door of compartment 57 will lock if closed. Whencontactor 77 reaches contact 70, it will be in its starting position,the circuit through coil `59 is made and the door of compartment 59 willopen. The empty cylinders in compartments' 56 and 57 can be uncoupledfrom the tittings in the compartments and removed. Filled cylinders willbe placed in compartments 57 and 58, and the doors of these twocompartments are closed. The machine is now reloaded and the doors ofthe hlled compartments locked. The operator will then press the resetswitch 13 which will complete a circuit through the transformersecondary 98 and relay reset coil 109 to shift the relay to operativeposition and close contacts and 107. The coin box will again be inoperative condition, the empty light will be oit and Warning light 99Will againbe lit. The machine is now ready for service.

If the service man should arrive before all full cylinders have beendispensed, he is able to reopen the doors of chambers having emptycylinders therein byV closing the reload switch 12. This will cause theselector to rotate to its starting position, as described above, and thedoors will open in reverse sequence as the selector moves backward. ltis to be noted, however, that the service man cannot open thecompartments containing full cylinders without depositing coins in theusual man- 'which the invention may take.

ner. This precludes the possibility of a dishonest service man removingtull cylinders from the machine at the time of reloading.

The above-described machine is lbut one practical form Many variationsof this structure are possible, so long as a plurality ofcylinderreceiving positions are provided, with means at each position tolock the cylinder against removal, and the cylinder locking means arearranged to open in sequence,

with the locking means at each position releasing in rcsponse toconnection of an empty cylinder to a recognition means in theimmediately preceding position and locking Ithe empty cylinder in thatpreceding position.

f One such variation is shown in FIGURES l and 1l.

Referring to FIGURES and 11 in detail, the vending apparatus is in theform of a rack 110 having a plurality of cylinder-receiving positions111 therealong. Only a portion of the rack is shown. The rack consistsof a fiat base 112, with upstanding collars 113 at eachcylinder-receiving position. The Vcollars are of proper size to sea-tthe reduced ends 114 of gas cylinders 115. On either side of thecollars, posts 116 rise vertically to support sectional gniide members117. The guide members have horizontal tracks 118 at their sides toslidably receive the side edges of locking slides 119. There is a slidebetween each adjacent pair of guide members and the slides, when inlocked position, overlie the collars 113 and thus overlie the tops ofcylinders in the collars. The slides are notched at their rear edges, asat 120, so as to embrace the upstanding valves 121 of the cylinders andhold the cylinders against removal from the collars.

Supported above the guide members there is a conduit 122, to which hoses123 carrying P.O.L. fittings 124 are connected. There will be a fittingat each position except the last, as in the form previously described.

Each of the slides will be held in` locked position by means of a lock125. Springs 126 will urge the slides outwardly when unlocked. Switchboxes 127 will be carried by the guide members, and the switch buttons123 will project from the boxes to be depressed by the slides when theslides move to locked position. This is the same operation as performedwhen closing the doors of the first-described form. The rack will carrya locked control box 129 with the same controls as in the previouslydescribed box 7.

The rack of FIGURE 10 will be wired in the same manner as the circuitsalready described. The operation of the rack will be similar to thefirst form except that the slides will be moved in and out in place ofopening and closing doors.

While in the above several practical embodiments of the invention havebeen disclosed, it will be understood that the precise details ofconstruction shown and described are merely by way of illustration andthe invention may take other forms within the scope of the ap- `pendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers comprising, meansdefining a plurality of vending stations arranged in predeterminedsequence adapted to receive containers, container-confining means ateach station movable to and from positions blocking removal ofcontainers from the stations, means to lock each container-confiningmeans in container-blocking position, container-recognition means ateach station ahead of the last station of the sequence, eachcontainer-recognition means including a control member renderedoperative by connection of the recognition means to an empty container,a coin control mechanism rendered operative by deposit of coins ofpredetermined value, and release means at each station ahead of the laststation of the sequence to release the locking means of the container`confining means at the next successive station of the sequence, eachrelease means being operative upon movng the `container-confining meansat the station at which the release means is located tocontainer-blocking position while the control member of thecontainer-recognition means at the station at which the release means islocated is operative and after the coin control mechanism has beenoperated.

2. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers as claimed in claiml'wherein, there is an electric circuit for each release means, and thecoin control mechanism includes a circuit selector to render operativethe electric circuits in succession upon the deposit of coins.

3. Apparatus for vending commodity-lled containers as claimed in claim2, the container-recognition means control member., comprising switchesin the respective electric circuits.

4. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets comprising, means defining a plurality of vending stationsarranged in predetermined sequence adapted to receive containers,container-confining means at each station, movable to and from positionsblocking removal of containers yfrom the stations, means to lock eachcontainer-confining means in container-blocking position, a fitting ateach station ahead of the last station of the sequence adapted forattachment to empty valved containers of the particular type to bevended, the

fittings each containing a switch closable upon attachment lof thefitting upon an empty container, release means at each station ahead ofthe last station of the sequence to release the locking means of thecontainerconfining means of the next successive station of the sequence,an electric circuit for each release means, the switches contained inthe fittings forming part of the respective electric circuits, coincontrol means rendered operative by the deposit of coins ofpredetermined value, the coin control means including a circuitselec-tor to render operative the respective circuits in succession uponthe deposit of coins, and means at each station operative upon movingthe container-confining means at the respective stations tocontainer-confining position to close the electric circuit at thatstation, whereby moving the container-confining means at a station tocontainer-confining position after attachment of the `fitting at thatstation to an empty container and depositing coins in the coin controlwill operate the release means to release outlets of the containers, andthe switches in the fittings are adjustable to vary the degree of screwthreaded attachment of the fitting to a container necessary to close aswitch.

6. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 5 wherein, the fittings haveswitch-operating members seatable in the outlets of empty containers tooperate the switch in the fitting and to seal the container outlet.

7. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets comprising, a cabinet having a plurality of container-receivingcompartments therein arranged in predetermined sequence, a hinged doorat each compartment for closing the compartment, means to lock the doorsin closed position, a fitting in each cornpartment ahead of the lastcompartment in the sequence adapted for attachment to empty valvedcontainers of the particular type to be vended, the fittings eachcontaining a switch closable upon attachment of the'fitting to an emptycontainer, release means at each compartment ahead of the lastcompartment of the sequence to release the locking means of the door ofthe next successive compartment of the sequence, an electric circuit foreach release means, each circuit containing the switch of the fitting inthe compartment with which the circuit cooperates, coin control meansrendered operative by the deposit of coins of predetermined value,

the coin control means including a circuit selector to render operativethe respective circuits in succession upon the deposit of coins, andmeans at each compartment operated by closing the door of thecompartment to close the electric circuit of that compartment after thefitting at the respective compartment has been attached to an emptycontainer placed in the compartment and the coin control circuitselector has activated the circuit of the compartment.

8. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 7 wherein, the fittings are threaded forattachment to the valved outlets of the containers, and the switches inthe fittings are adiustable to vary the degree of screw threadedattachment of the fitting to a container necessary to close a switch.

9. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 8 wherein, the fittings haveswitch-operating members seatable in the outlets of empty containers tooperate the switch in the fitting and to seal the container outlet.

10. Apparatus for vending co1nmodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets comprising, a cabinet having a plurality of container-receivingcompartments therein arranged in predetermined sequence, a hinged doorat each compartment for closing the compartment, means to lock each doorin closed position, a fitting in each compartment ahead of the lastcompartment in the sequence adapted for attachment to empty valvedcontainers of the particular type to be vended, thefittings eachcontaining a switch closed by attachment of the fitting to an emptycontainer, a switch at each compartment ahead of the last compartment ofthe sequence closed by closing the door of the compartment at which theswitch is located, means to release the locking means of each door, anelectric circuit for each compartment ahead of the last compartment ofthe sequence, each compartment circuit including the fitting switch forthat compartment, the door-closed switch for that compartment and thelock-releasing means for the door of the next successive compartment ofthe sequence, and a coin control means rendered operative upon thedeposit of coins of predetermined Value, the coin control meansincluding a circuit selector to render operative the electric circuitsin succession in the sequence in which the compartments are arranged.

1l. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having outletvalves as claimed in claim l wherein, there are means to release all ofthe doors for removal of empty containers and replacement of filledcontainers after the last filled container has been removed from thecabinet.

12. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 1l wherein there are means to reset thevending mechanism after the cabinet has been reloaded and thecompartment doors after the first in the sequence have been closed.

13. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 12 wherein the switches within the fittingscan be adjusted to operate when the fittings are attached to containerswith different degrees of tightness.

14. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 13 wherein the fittings when attached to thecontainers serve as closures for the valved outlets.

15. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 14 wherein there are means to indicate whenthe fittings are attached to the containers with the required degree oftightness, and when all filled containers have been removed from thecabinet.

16. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets comprising, a frame, a plurality of container stations arrangedon the frame in predetermined sequence, means at each station to seat acontainer, a gate at each station movable to and from positions toretain containers on their seats, means to lock each gate incontainer-retaining position, a fitting at each station ahead of thelast station of the sequence adapted for attachment to empty valvedcontainers of the particular type to be vended, the fittings eachcontaining a switch closed by attachment. of the fitting to an emptycontainer, a switch at each station ahead of the last station of thesequence closed by moving the gate at the station to container-retainingposition, means to release the locking means of each gate, an electriccircuit for each station ahead of the last station of the sequence, eachstation circuit including the fitting switch for that station, thegate-closed switch for that station and the lock-re1easing means for thegate of the next successive station of the sequence, and a coin controlmeans rendered operative upon the deposit of coins of predeterminedvalue, the coin control means including a circuit selector to renderoperative the electric circuits in succession in the sequence in whichthe compartments are arranged.

17. Apparatus for vending commodity-lled containers having outlet valvesas claimed in claim 16 wherein, there are means to release all of thegates for removal of empty containers and replacement of filledcontainers after the last filled container has been removed from thestations.

18. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 17 wherein there are means to reset thevending mechanism after the stations have been reloaded and the stationgates after the first in the sequence have been closed.

19. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 18 wherein the switches within the fittingscan be adjusted to operate when the fittings are attached to containerswith different degrees of tightness.

20. Apparatus for vending commodity-filled containers having valvedoutlets as claimed in claim 19 wherein the fittings when attached to thecontainers serve as closures for the valved outlets.

References Cited by the VExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,258,498 3/18Stuebing et al. 312-16 1,489,125 4/24 Jaeger 232--412 1,987,835 1/35Love 194-4 1,996,668 4/35 Bliss 194-4 2,585,919 2/52 Davis.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, ERNEST A. FALLER, HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiners.

1. APPARATUS FOR VENDING COMMODITY-FILLED CONTAINERS COMPRISING, MEANSDEFINING A PLURALITY OF VENDING STATIONS ARRANGED IN PREDETERMINEDSEQUENCE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE CONTAINERS, CONTAINER-CONFINING MEANS ATEACH STATION MOVABLE TO AND FROM POSITIONS BLOCKING REMOVAL OFCONTAINERS FROM THE STATIONS, MEANS TO LOCK EACH CONTAINER-CONFININGMEANS IN CONTAINER-BLOCKING POSITION, CONTAINER-RECOGNITION MEANS ATEACH STATION AHEAD OF THE LAST STATION OF THE SEQUENCE, EACHCONTAINER-RECOGNITION MEANS INCLUDING A CONTROL MEMBER RENDEREDOPERATIVE BY CONNECTION OF THE RECOGNITION MEANS TO AN EMPTY CONTAINER,A COIN CONTROL MECHANISM RENDERED OPERATIVE BY DEPOSIT OF COINS OFPREDETERMINED VALUE, AND RELEASE MEANS AT EACH STATION AHEAD OF THE LASTSTATION OF THE SEQUENCE TO RELEASE THE LOCKING MEANS OF THECONTAINERCONFINING MEANS AT THE NEXT SUCCESSIVE STATION OF THE SEQUENCE,EACH RELEASE MEANS BEING OPERATIVE UPON MOV ING THE CONTAINER-CONFININGMEANS AT THE STATION AT WHICH THE RELEASE MEANS IS LOCATED TOCONTAINER-BLOCKING POSITION WHILE THE CONTROL MEMBER OF THECONTAINER-RECOGNITION MEANS AT THE STATION AT WHICH THE RELEASE MEANS ISLOCATED OPERATIVE AND AFTER THE COIN CONTROL MECHANISM HAS BEENOPERATED.